Vale Bob Lanigan

The Newtown RLFC regrets to announce the death of the former player Bob Lanigan who has passed away recently.

Bob played with the Newtown club from 1965 to 1968 as a winger and fullback, and also as a very accomplished goal-kicker.

In the 1966 season, when Newtown made the first grade semi-finals, Bob had the singular honour of being the highest points-scorer in the NSW Rugby League first grade competition, scoring 185 points (3 tries, 88 goals) in that year.

He later captain-coached Griffith Waratahs in Group 20 (in the Riverina Division), and also played with Dapto in the Illawarra competition and Macquarie United in the Newcastle Rugby League.

He worked as the strength and conditioning coach with the Auckland Warriors and the New Zealand Kiwis between 1995 and 1999.

Bob then became especially well-known as a popular and effective ground manager for the National Rugby League, and he was in charge of over 650 games including grand finals, State of Origin games and Test matches. The Newtown RLFC extends sincere condolences to Bob’s family and his many friends.